Materials
Free, standalone guides on music, instruments and theory.
Guitar Chord Progressions: the Patterns Behind Most Songs
Chord progressions are numbers, not names — learn I–V–vi–IV once and you can play it in any key. The seven chords of the five guitar keys, the eight progressions worth memorizing, the songs that use them, and how to move any of them with a capo.
Barre Chords: the 8 Movable Shapes and How to Make Them Ring
A barre chord turns your index finger into a movable nut, so one shape gives you twelve chords. Here are the eight shapes that cover 96 chords, a fret-by-fret root chart for both root strings, and the fixes for every kind of buzz.
Guitar Chords: A Beginner's Guide
What a guitar chord is, how to read a chord diagram, and the eight essential open chords to learn first — each linked to an interactive finder where you can see the fingering and hear it.
Wynton Kelly
Wynton Kelly (1931–1971), ranked #33 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the buoyant, swinging accompanist behind Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Willie "The Lion" Smith
Willie "The Lion" Smith (1893–1973), ranked #48 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the flamboyant Harlem stride master and most harmonically daring of the superstriders — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan (1930–2001), ranked #8 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — jazz's most tasteful accompanist, from Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' to a celebrated trio career.
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk (1917–1982), ranked #15 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the singular composer-pianist behind "'Round Midnight" and angular, swinging jazz — with scores to play.
Tete Montoliu
Tete Montoliu (1933–1997), ranked #21 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the blind Catalan bebopper who became Europe's premier jazz pianist — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson (1912–1986), ranked #23 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the definitive swing stylist of the "walking tenths," a Benny Goodman mainstay — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Roland Hanna
Roland Hanna (1932–2002), ranked #49 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the classically trained Detroit-school pianist, composer and teacher who fused every idiom into one voice — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Red Garland
Red Garland (1923–1984), ranked #10 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the block-chord bluesman who powered the classic Miles Davis Quintet — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Ray Bryant
Ray Bryant (1931–2011), #41 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the gospel-and-blues master of solo piano who wrote 'Little Susie' — with recordings and scores to play.
Ralph Sharon
Ralph Sharon (1923–2015), ranked #46 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: Tony Bennett's longtime pianist and musical director and a master Songbook accompanist — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Phineas Newborn Jr.
Phineas Newborn Jr. (1931–1989), ranked #22 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the phenomenal virtuoso of two-handed octave lines, praised and undervalued alike — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson (1925–2007), ranked #1 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the Montreal virtuoso whose flawless technique and mighty swing defined the jazz piano trio.
Nat "King" Cole
Nat "King" Cole (1919–1965), ranked #24 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the supple, riffing pianist whose drummerless trio reshaped small-group jazz — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Monty Alexander
Monty Alexander (b. 1944), ranked #5 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the Kingston-born virtuoso who fuses Caribbean rhythm with hard-swinging jazz; still touring in 2026.
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner (1938–2020), ranked #11 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: Coltrane's pianist whose quartal, modal, percussive sound reshaped jazz piano — with recordings and scores to play.
Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams (1910–1981), ranked #47 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the self-taught pianist-composer who spanned every jazz era and opened doors for women — her life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Lennie Tristano
Lennie Tristano (1919–1978), ranked #30 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the blind innovator whose free-improv and overdubbing experiments predated free jazz — with essential recordings and scores.
Kenny Drew
Kenny Drew (1928–1993), ranked #13 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the hard-bop pianist and prized accompanist who anchored Copenhagen's jazz scene — with recordings and scores to play.
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron (b. 1943), #36 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the unhurried modern master bridging bebop and today, still touring in 2026 — with scores to play.
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett (born 1945), ranked #50 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the improviser behind The Köln Concert, jazz's best-selling solo piano album — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
John Bunch
John Bunch (1921–2010), #35 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the tasteful swing pianist who bridged Teddy Wilson and Bud Powell — with recordings and scores to play.
Jimmy Rowles
Jimmy Rowles (1918–1996), #40 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the great singers' accompanist and composer of 'The Peacocks' — with recordings and scores to play.
Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton (c. 1890–1941), #43 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the boastful New Orleans pioneer whose ragtime solos swung with new freedom — with scores to play.
Horace Silver
Horace Silver (1928–2014), ranked #18 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the self-taught architect of hard bop and composer of "Song for My Father" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock (born 1940), ranked #42 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list and the highest-ranked living pianist on it: Blue Note, Miles Davis, Head Hunters and "Watermelon Man" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Hank Jones
Hank Jones (1918–2010), ranked #19 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the velvet-touch accompanist and harmonist who headed the Detroit piano school — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Hampton Hawes
Hampton Hawes (1928–1977), ranked #14 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the fiery Los Angeles bebopper who disproved the cool-West-Coast cliché — with recordings and scores to play.
George Shearing
George Shearing (1919–2011), ranked #9 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the blind British-born master of the 'locked-hands' block-chord sound and 'Lullaby of Birdland'.
Gene Harris
Gene Harris (1933–2000), ranked #12 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the blues- and gospel-rooted groove master of the Three Sounds — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Fats Waller
Fats Waller (1904–1943), ranked #31 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the joyous stride master and hit songwriter who taught Tatum and Basie — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Erroll Garner
Erroll Garner (1921–1977), ranked #25 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the self-taught, orchestral-sounding pianist who wrote "Misty" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Earl Hines
Earl 'Fatha' Hines (1903–1983), #39 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the father of modern jazz piano whose 'trumpet-style' made ragtime obsolete — with scores to play.
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington (1899–1974), #38 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: apart from the composer, an original pianist whose angular touch pointed toward Monk — with scores to play.
Dick Hyman
Dick Hyman (b. 1927), ranked #32 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the stylistic chameleon who can re-create any era of jazz piano — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Derek Smith
Derek Smith (1931–2016), ranked #45 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the English-born virtuoso and Tonight Show pianist who fused Powell and Peterson — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Dave McKenna
Dave McKenna (1930–2008), ranked #34 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the 'three-handed' solo swinger whose self-contained left hand made him a one-man band — with essential recordings and scores.
Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck (1920–2012), ranked #28 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the classically schooled star of odd meters and polytonality behind Time Out — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Cyrus Chestnut
Cyrus Chestnut (b. 1963), ranked #29 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the gospel-rooted, dynamically nuanced pianist modeled on Ahmad Jamal — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Count Basie
Count Basie (1904–1984), ranked #27 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the Kansas City bandleader whose spare, blues-drenched stride piano is the art of leaving things out — with essential recordings and scores.
Chick Corea
Chick Corea (1941–2021), ranked #20 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: fusion pioneer with Return to Forever, Miles Davis alumnus and composer of "Spain" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Cedar Walton
Cedar Walton (1934–2013), ranked #26 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the hard-bop mainstay and composer of "Bolivia" and "Firm Roots" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Bud Powell
Bud Powell (1924–1966), ranked #3 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the New York pianist who invented the language of bebop piano and shaped every player after him.
Bobby Timmons
Bobby Timmons (1935–1974), #37 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the soul-jazz composer of 'Moanin'' whose anthems outshone his own career — with scores to play.
Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor (1921–2010), ranked #17 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the polished bebop stylist and tireless jazz educator and advocate — with recordings and scores to play.
Bill Evans
Bill Evans (1929–1980), ranked #2 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the New Jersey pianist whose singing tone and impressionist harmony reinvented the modern jazz trio.
The Best Women Jazz Pianists
The ten greatest women jazz pianists in Gene Rizzo's ranking — from Mary Lou Williams and Marian McPartland to Eliane Elias, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Renee Rosnes — with corrected dates and scores to play.
The Best Jazz Pianists of All Time
Jazz journalist Gene Rizzo's ranking of the 50 greatest jazz piano players — Peterson, Evans, Powell, Tatum, Monk, Hancock, Corea and more — with a full table, the eras of jazz piano, and scores to play.
Benny Green
Benny Green (b. 1963), ranked #6 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the blues-steeped hard-bop pianist Oscar Peterson picked as his protégé; still recording in 2026.
Art Tatum
Art Tatum (1909–1956), ranked #4 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the nearly blind Toledo virtuoso whose speed and harmonic daring redefined the instrument — with essential recordings and scores to play.
André Previn
André Previn (1929–2019), ranked #7 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the Oscar-winning composer-conductor whose brilliant, blues-tinged jazz-trio records sold in the millions.
Al Haig
Al Haig (1924–1982), ranked #44 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the lyrical bebop pianist and favorite Charlie Parker accompanist — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Ahmad Jamal
Ahmad Jamal (1930–2023), ranked #16 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the space-conscious trio master whose economy shaped Miles Davis and "Poinciana" — with recordings and scores to play.
Guitar string names
Learn the six guitar string names in order — E, A, D, G, B, E — why the numbering runs backwards, the standard tuning, and easy mnemonics to memorize them.
Drop D tuning
Drop D tuning lowers only the low 6th string from E to D, giving D A D G B E. Learn how to tune to it, why guitarists use it, and real songs to try.
Middle C
What middle C is, how to find it on the keyboard, its pitch and frequency (C4, ~261.63 Hz), and where it sits on the grand staff — with a quick reference table.
What is the chromatic scale?
Learn what the chromatic scale is: all 12 pitches an octave apart by half steps, why it has no home key, how to spell it up and down, and how to play it.
Melodic minor scale
Learn what the melodic minor scale is, how it raises the 6th and 7th ascending, why classical practice reverts descending, and the notes of A melodic minor.
Easy piano songs for beginners
The best easy piano songs for beginners use a small hand span, few black keys, and repeating patterns. Here are 12 real pieces and what each one teaches.
Easy guitar songs for beginners
A dozen genuinely easy guitar songs for beginners, grouped from two chords to four — with the exact chords each one uses, why it’s simple, and where a capo fits in.
How to read guitar tabs
Learn to read guitar tablature from scratch: what the six lines and numbers mean, a full table of tab symbols, a famous riff read off the tab, and tab’s one limit.
How to play piano: a beginner's guide
Start playing piano step by step: posture, the keyboard, your first notes, reading music, scales, chords, rhythm, and how to practice.
The pentatonic scale, explained
What the pentatonic scale is, how to spell the major and minor versions, why dropping two notes makes it sound safe, and how to play one on the piano.
Key signatures, explained
What a key signature is, why it exists, the order of sharps and flats, and two quick tricks for naming the major key — and its relative minor — at a glance.
Major and minor scales: the difference
Major sounds bright, minor sounds shaded — and the difference is a handful of lowered notes. Learn to spell and hear it, plus the three minor scales.
How to recognize intervals by ear
A repeatable method for naming intervals by ear: pin each one to a familiar song, drill both directions daily, and beat the common mix-ups.
Note values, rests, and time signatures
Learn how rhythm is written: note values and rests, dots and ties, and how a time signature groups the beat into measures so you can count and play in time.
Piano keys and notes: a map of the keyboard
Name any key on sight: the repeating pattern of white and black keys, the black-key landmarks, octaves and middle C, and the sharps and flats.
The bass clef, explained
Read the bass clef with confidence: what the F clef marks, the line and space note names, where middle C sits, and a simple path to fluency.
The treble clef, explained
Read the treble clef with confidence: what the G clef is, name every line (E, G, B, D, F) and space (F, A, C, E), and find middle C below the staff.
How to read piano notes
Learn to connect notes on the page to keys on the piano: orient by the black-key groups, anchor on middle C, and turn any written note into the right key.
Music intervals, explained
What a musical interval is, how to count and name seconds through octaves, what major, minor, and perfect mean, and how to recognize each one by ear.
Piano scales for beginners
Learn what piano scales are, why the major scale sounds bright, how to play C major with the right fingering, and a simple practice path to start today.
Piano chords for beginners
Learn how piano chords are built from stacked thirds, find the six essential beginner triads, and play your first chord progression with confidence.
How to read sheet music: a beginner's guide
Learn to read sheet music from scratch: the staff, treble and bass clefs, note names, note values, and time signatures, plus a simple practice path.
Circle of fifths
The one diagram that turns key signatures, related keys and chords into something you can reason about — the circle of fifths, explained.